Pluto was accidentaly discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh while he was looking for "Planet X" and was named Pluto after the greek god of the underworld.
In 1978 Pluto's moon Charon was doscovered by Jim Christy. Some belived Charon was another planet because it's only slightly smaller than Pluto. Pluto is also unique for its shared orbit with Neptune.
Pluto is usually farther from the Sun than any of the eight planets; however, due to the eccentricity of its orbit, it is closer than Neptune for 20 years out of its 249 year orbit. Pluto crossed Neptune's orbit January 21, 1979, made its closest approach September 5, 1989, and remained within the orbit of Neptune until February 11, 1999. This will not occur again until September 2226.
Analysis indicates that the surface of Pluto is composed of about 98% nitrogen with small amounts of methane and carbon monoxide. There is some evidence that Pluto's atmosphere may be slowly escaping into space, possibly moving to Charon. Pluto may even have active weather because of Charon. Although the surface temperature of Pluto has been estimated in a range from -378 to -396 degrees F.
NASA is now working on a new probe that can withstand pluto's harsh conditions. It will be ready by 2015 to explore the many mysteries of pluto's atmosphere and core. As Pluto is now traveling away from the Sun, Pluto's atmosphere won't last long. Astronomers think it will begin to disappear soon. This is one of the big reasons for the New Horizons spacecraft, to study Pluto's atmosphere before it's gone for good.
Icy landscape of Pluto
Quaoar, an Icy World Far Beyond Pluto
With the help of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers have determined that 2002 LM60, an icy Kuiper belt object dubbed "Quaoar," by its discoverers, is the largest body found in the solar system since the discovery of Pluto 72 years ago. Quaoar (pronounced kwa-whar) is about half the size of Pluto. Like Pluto, Quaoar dwells in the Kuiper belt.
The makings of the Kuiper Belt
View of pluto from Charon
Quick Facts
Pluto's Core
Distance from the Sun - 3.67 billion miles
Length of day - 6.39 Earth days
Diameter at equator - 1,482 miles (smallest planet)
Tilt of axis - 122.5 degrees
Moons - 3 Known moons
Atmosphere - Mostly made up of nitrogen and methane
Discoverer - Clyde Tombaugh
Discovery date - February 18, 1930
Pluto is not only ice but several different kinds of snow (crushed ice) have been found on the surfaces of these moons.
Scientists can only guess what the inside is made of, but when the Voyager missions flew by some the icy moons, measurements were made that showed that the inside of the moons might also made of ice.
The fact that the major moons are made primarily of ice suggests a certain path for the evolution of these bodies.
Pluto
Pluto was accidentaly discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh while he was looking for "Planet X" and was named Pluto after the greek god of the underworld.
In 1978 Pluto's moon Charon was doscovered by Jim Christy. Some belived Charon was another planet because it's only slightly smaller than Pluto. Pluto is also unique for its shared orbit with Neptune.
Pluto is usually farther from the Sun than any of the eight planets; however, due to the eccentricity of its orbit, it is closer than Neptune for 20 years out of its 249 year orbit. Pluto crossed Neptune's orbit January 21, 1979, made its closest approach September 5, 1989, and remained within the orbit of Neptune until February 11, 1999. This will not occur again until September 2226.
Analysis indicates that the surface of Pluto is composed of about 98% nitrogen with small amounts of methane and carbon monoxide. There is some evidence that Pluto's atmosphere may be slowly escaping into space, possibly moving to Charon. Pluto may even have active weather because of Charon. Although the surface temperature of Pluto has been estimated in a range from -378 to -396 degrees F.
NASA is now working on a new probe that can withstand pluto's harsh conditions. It will be ready by 2015 to explore the many mysteries of pluto's atmosphere and core. As Pluto is now traveling away from the Sun, Pluto's atmosphere won't last long. Astronomers think it will begin to disappear soon. This is one of the big reasons for the New Horizons spacecraft, to study Pluto's atmosphere before it's gone for good.
With the help of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers have determined that 2002 LM60, an icy Kuiper belt object dubbed "Quaoar," by its discoverers, is the largest body found in the solar system since the discovery of Pluto 72 years ago. Quaoar (pronounced kwa-whar) is about half the size of Pluto. Like Pluto, Quaoar dwells in the Kuiper belt.
Quick Facts
Pluto is not only ice but several different kinds of snow (crushed ice) have been found on the surfaces of these moons.
Scientists can only guess what the inside is made of, but when the Voyager missions flew by some the icy moons, measurements were made that showed that the inside of the moons might also made of ice.
The fact that the major moons are made primarily of ice suggests a certain path for the evolution of these bodies.
Bibliography:
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v418/n6894/images/418135a-f1.2.jpg
http://www.google.com/
http://www.solarviews.com/eng/kuiper.htm
http://library.thinkquest.org/26490/Pluto.html
http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/jupiter/moons/general_composition.icy.html&edu=elem